Description
Once, Xhea's wants were simple: enough to eat, safety in the underground, and the hit of bright payment to transform her gray-cast world into color. But in the aftermath of her rescue of the Radiant ghost Shai, she realizes the life she had known is gone forever.
In the two months since her fall from the City, Xhea has hidden in skyscraper Edren, sheltered and attempting to heal. But soon even she must face the troubling truth that she might never walk again. Shai, ever faithful, has stayed by her side but the ghost's very presence has sent untold fortunes into Edren's coffers and dangerously unbalanced the Lower City's political balance.
War is brewing. Beyond Edren's walls, the other skyscrapers have heard tell of the Radiant ghost and the power she holds; rumors, too, speak of the girl who sees ghosts who might be the key to controlling that power. Soon, assassins stalk the skyscrapers' darkened corridors while armies gather in the streets. But Shai's magic is not the only prize nor the only power that could change everything. At last, Xhea begins to learn of her strange dark magic, and why even whispers of its presence are enough to make the Lower City elite tremble in fear.
Together, Xhea and Shai may have the power to stop a war or become a weapon great enough to bring the City to its knees. That is, if the magic doesn't destroy them first.
Skyhorse Publishing, under our Night Shade and Talos imprints, is proud to publish a broad range of titles for readers interested in science fiction (space opera, time travel, hard SF, alien invasion, near-future dystopia), fantasy (grimdark, sword and sorcery, contemporary urban fantasy, steampunk, alternative history), and horror (zombies, vampires, and the occult and supernatural), and much more. While not every title we publish becomes a New York Times bestseller, a national bestseller, or a Hugo or Nebula award-winner, we are committed to publishing quality books from a diverse group of authors.
About the Author
Karina Sumner-Smith is a Canadian author of fantasy, science fiction, and young adult. She is the author of Radiant: Towers Trilogy Book One. Her short fiction has appeared in The Living Dead 2, The Best Horror of the Year Volume Three, and Children of Magic, among others. Among being reprinted in a number of anthologies, her short stories have also been nominated for the Nebula Award and have been translated into Czech and Spanish. She lives in Toronto, Ontario.
Reviews
"Impossible to put down! Sumner-Smith has outdone herself in this thrilling sequel with higher stakes, darker magic, and a bond of friendship that proves unbreakable--even in the face of war. Readers will be desperate for the conclusion!"
- Jessica Leake, author of Arcana
"In this inventive second Towers Trilogy fantasy (following Radiant), Sumner-Smith delves deeper into the dark, destructive magic that is making protagonist Xhea's life a living hell ... New readers will struggle to catch up, but returning fans will appreciate that Sumner-Smith has done a fine job of setting up the final good vs. evil, rich vs. poor magical showdown."
- Publishers Weekly
"Defiant is a compelling novel of character. Once I picked it up, I couldn't put it down again, to such a degree that I walked to the train station still reading. ... Tight, tense, and effortlessly readable, its climax is a thing of nail-biting intensity, and it ends with revelations, and more change to come. I can recommend it wholeheartedly--and I'm really looking forward to reading book three."
- Tor.com
Book Information
ISBN 9781940456263
Author Karina Sumner-Smith
Format Paperback
Page Count 400
Imprint Talos
Publisher Skyhorse Publishing
Weight(grams) 494g
Dimensions(mm) 229mm * 152mm * 28mm
In the two months since her fall from the City, Xhea has hidden in skyscraper Edren, sheltered and attempting to heal. But soon even she must face the troubling truth that she might never walk again. Shai, ever faithful, has stayed by her side but the ghost's very presence has sent untold fortunes into Edren's coffers and dangerously unbalanced the Lower City's political balance.
War is brewing. Beyond Edren's walls, the other skyscrapers have heard tell of the Radiant ghost and the power she holds; rumors, too, speak of the girl who sees ghosts who might be the key to controlling that power. Soon, assassins stalk the skyscrapers' darkened corridors while armies gather in the streets. But Shai's magic is not the only prize nor the only power that could change everything. At last, Xhea begins to learn of her strange dark magic, and why even whispers of its presence are enough to make the Lower City elite tremble in fear.
Together, Xhea and Shai may have the power to stop a war or become a weapon great enough to bring the City to its knees. That is, if the magic doesn't destroy them first.
Skyhorse Publishing, under our Night Shade and Talos imprints, is proud to publish a broad range of titles for readers interested in science fiction (space opera, time travel, hard SF, alien invasion, near-future dystopia), fantasy (grimdark, sword and sorcery, contemporary urban fantasy, steampunk, alternative history), and horror (zombies, vampires, and the occult and supernatural), and much more. While not every title we publish becomes a New York Times bestseller, a national bestseller, or a Hugo or Nebula award-winner, we are committed to publishing quality books from a diverse group of authors.
About the Author
Karina Sumner-Smith is a Canadian author of fantasy, science fiction, and young adult. She is the author of Radiant: Towers Trilogy Book One. Her short fiction has appeared in The Living Dead 2, The Best Horror of the Year Volume Three, and Children of Magic, among others. Among being reprinted in a number of anthologies, her short stories have also been nominated for the Nebula Award and have been translated into Czech and Spanish. She lives in Toronto, Ontario.
Reviews
"Impossible to put down! Sumner-Smith has outdone herself in this thrilling sequel with higher stakes, darker magic, and a bond of friendship that proves unbreakable--even in the face of war. Readers will be desperate for the conclusion!"
- Jessica Leake, author of Arcana
"In this inventive second Towers Trilogy fantasy (following Radiant), Sumner-Smith delves deeper into the dark, destructive magic that is making protagonist Xhea's life a living hell ... New readers will struggle to catch up, but returning fans will appreciate that Sumner-Smith has done a fine job of setting up the final good vs. evil, rich vs. poor magical showdown."
- Publishers Weekly
"Defiant is a compelling novel of character. Once I picked it up, I couldn't put it down again, to such a degree that I walked to the train station still reading. ... Tight, tense, and effortlessly readable, its climax is a thing of nail-biting intensity, and it ends with revelations, and more change to come. I can recommend it wholeheartedly--and I'm really looking forward to reading book three."
- Tor.com
Book Information
ISBN 9781940456263
Author Karina Sumner-Smith
Format Paperback
Page Count 400
Imprint Talos
Publisher Skyhorse Publishing
Weight(grams) 494g
Dimensions(mm) 229mm * 152mm * 28mm
